California Biographies
Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)
History By Paul E. Vandor
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
ADOLPH DOMENGINE.� A native son of the Golden West who has
achieved success and prominence is Adolph Domengine, who was born on
the corner of Pacific and Stockton Streets in the city of San Francisco, on
February 6, 1856. His father, John Domengine, was a native of France, born
at St. Abbiet, Basses Pyrenees. On learning of the discovery of gold in Cali-
fornia he came on the sailing vessel Tempered around Cape Horn to San
Francisco in 1849. He made his way to the mines where he fortunately met
with good success.
After a few years of mining he returned to France where he was mar-
ried to Marie Claverie, and then brought his bride to California ; at the same
time he also brought his brother. Mathew, and his sister, Catherine. For a
time he was engaged in the laundry business in San Francisco and then re-
moved to near Santa Clara where he became the owner of 400 acres of land
and engaged in raising cattle till 1865 when he sold the place for $4,000. In
the dry year of 1864 he lost heavily of his herd and what he had left he sold
for $900. but before he could collect it was attached and he lost it also. They
had moved onto the ranch at Santa Clara on account of the mother's health,
but the change did not benefit her as they had expected, and she died in 1859,
leaving three children, � two girls and a boy. Their Uncle Mathew then took
the three children back to France while the father, John Domengine, remained
in California and entered the employ of Miller & Lux at the 12-Mile
Ranch near Baden, San Mateo County, where he was foreman until 1867
when he engaged in the sheep business. He bought sheep in Los Angeles
and vicinity and drove them to the San Francisco market. After three years
he began sheep-raising on the San Luis Ranch at Pacheco Pass, until 1873.
when he sold out and returned to his native France, where he made his home
until he died in 1885. The three children were : Maria, who died at nine
years of age, in France ; Leona, who is Mrs. Brinil and resides in St. Abbiet,
France ; and Adolph, our subject, who was the second oldest.
When three years of age Adolph was taken back to France, residing; at
St. Abbiet where he attended school until 1868. He then came back to Califor-
nia, coming via the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco. In 1869-70 he
made a trip to Los Angeles with his father for a band of sheep and helped
drive them to San Francisco, after which he attended school in that city for
twenty-two months. In May, 1872, he began herding sheep for his father on
the San Luis Ranch, continuing with him until he sold out in 1873. and then
he continued with Simon Camy who had purchased his father's property.
In 1874 they moved the sheep to near Fresno, on the San Joaquin River,
until Mr. Camy sold to Peter Lorquier, who ran them on the plains between
Fresno and the San Joaquin River.
Mr. Domengine at this time saw the brick burned for the first court-
house in Fresno. In 1875 he engaged with Peter Casson in ranging the sheep
on the West Side, over land that our subject now owns. He found that all
he could expect to receive from the small sheepman was $35 a month so he
changed and went to work for Miller & Lux. After herding a year for them,
he drove on the road for them three years and then became foreman of sheep
for them until September, 1883. At this time he returned to the West Side
and purchased from Peter Etchegoin the possessory right of his present place,
purchasing his 3,200 head of sheep and outfit at the same time, and continuing
the business. He preempted 160 acres and homesteaded 160 acres, and as
he prospered he bought railroad land as well as other lands, until he now
owns about 10,000 acres in two different ranches. He also leases about 5,000
acres, his range being scattered over a distance of twelve miles.
In 1912, Mr. Domengine sold his sheep and turned his attention to rais-
ing cattle of the Durham strain, having some fine full-blooded Durhams at the
head of his herd. His brand is a D with a quarter circle above, and A. The
Domengine Ranch extends from the plains back into the foothills of the
Coast Range, a little way below the Joaquin Rock, abounding in streams and
springs, making a splendid cattle ranch, where he ranges about a thousand
head of cattle. Some of the lands on the plains he leases for grain-raising.
He .is a member of the California Cattle Growers Association, and also of the
American National Live Stock Association.
The marriage of Mr. Domengine to Miss Mary A. Pfitzer occurred in
Fresno, April 15, 1887. She was born in Shingle Springs, Iowa, and came
with her parents across the plains in an emigrant train when a babe in arms.
Her father. Anthony Pfitzer, was born in Wurttemberg. Germany, and came
to Illinois when a young man and there he married Theressa Myers, also a
Wurtemberger. In 1863, Anthony Pfitzer crossed the plains to California
and engaged in stock-raising near Los Banos, Merced County, becoming a
prominent man and large land-owner, and there he died in 1891, while his
wife died in Berkeley, in May, 1919, eighty-six years of age. Mrs. Domen-
gine is the third oldest of their nine children, all of whom are living. She
was educated in the public schools at Los Banos, Notre Dame Academy in
Santa Clara, and at San Jose State Normal. Mr. and Mrs. Domengine have
three children: Adolph M., who finished his schooling at Chestnutwoods
Business College, at Santa Cruz; Edna M., educated at Holy Cross Academy,
Santa Cruz; and Walter, at the Oakland Polytechnic, and all are now asso-
ciated with their parents in the cattle business.
A brief history of the Domengine Ranch is very interesting. It was first
settled by George L. Hoffman as early as 1862, and lumber was hauled from
Stockton to build the first cabin, the walls of which are still standing on the
place, being preserved by a new roof. Hoffman sold to Bertram Yribarren
who occupied the place from 1868 to 1872, when he sold to Peter Etchegoin
who held it till September 1, 1883. when Mr. Domengine purchased his pos-
sessory right, this claim being on railroad lands, Sec. 29-18-15 ; which he
later purchased from the railroad company. In 1883 he also bought Mr.
Etchegoin's claim on an upper ranch, in Sec. 25-18-14, which had been origi-
nally located in 1864 by Jose Aricocha, who later acquired title to it. It is
also a splendid ranch location at an elevation of over 2,500 feet, with ex-
cellent springs of water.
Mr. and Mrs. Domengine are among the oldest settlers of the West Side.
They are people of culture and are interested in education and advancement,
and wield a wide influence for good. By their perseverance and industry
they have attained success and prominence, and their example is well worthy
of emulation. Being firm believers in protection, they are stanch Republi-
cans.